Expositions on the Book of Psalms
THE -WORKS*OFUST.. AUGUSTIN. [Psatm LXXXIX.
Father's right hand, reproaches were cast against the Christians: they long were reproached with the name of Christ. That widowed one who brought forth, and whose children were more
Amen" (ver.52). Thanks to His mercy,° thanks to His grace. We express our thanks: we do not give them, nor return them, nor repay them: we express our thanks in words, while in fact we retain our sense of them.? He saved us for no reward, He heeded not our impieties: He searched us out when we searched not for Him, He found, redeemed, emancipated us from the bondage of the devil and the power of his wicked angels: He drew us to Him to purify us by that faith, from which He releases those enemies only who believe not, and who for that reason cannot be purified. Let those who still remain infidels say every day what they choose; day by day they shall be fewer and fewer that remain; let them revile, mock, accuse, not the death, but the change of Christ. Do they not see that, when they say these things, they fail in purpose either by believing or by dying? For their curse is temporal: but the blessing of the Lord "for evermore." To confirm that blessing is added, "Amen and Amen." This is the signature of the bond of God. Secure then of His promises, let us believe the past, recognise the present, hope for the future. Let not the enemy lead us astray from the way, that He, who gathers us like chickens under His wings, may foster us: lest we stray from His wings, and the hawk of the air carry us off while yet unfledged. For the Christian ought not to hope in himself: if he hopes to be strong, let him be reared by his mother's warmth. 'This is the hen who gathers her young together ; whence is the reproach of our Saviour against the unbelieving Jerusalem. " Behold, your house shall be left unto you desolate."'® Hence was it said, "Thou hast made his strongholds aterror." Since then they would not be gathered together under the wings of this hen, and have given as a warning to teach us to dread the unclean spirits that fly in the air, seeking daily what they may devour; let us gather ourselves under the wings of this hen, the divine Wisdom, since she is weakened even unto death of her chickens. Let us love our Lord God, let us love His Church: Him as a Father, Her as a Mother: Him as a Lord, Her as His Handmaid, as we are ourselves the Handmaid's sons. But this marriage is held together by a bond of great love: no man offends the one, and wins favour of the other. Let no man say, "I go indeed to the idols, I consult possessed ones and fortune-tellers : yet abandon not God's Church ; I am a Catholic." While thou holdest to thy Mother, thou hast offended thy Father. Another says, Far be it from me; I consult no sorcerer, than those of the married wife,' heard ill names, heard reproaches: but the Church, multiplied as she is, extending right and left, no longer remembers the reproach of her widowhood. "Remember, Lord," in the memory of whom there is abundant sweetness. '' Remember," forget not. Remember what? "the rebuke that Thy servants have: and how I do bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people."' I went, saith he, to preach of Thee, and I heard reproaches, and bore them in my bosom, because I was fulfilling the prophecy. '" Being defamed we entreat: we are made as the filth of the earth, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day."? Long the Christians bore reproaches in their bosom, in their heart: nor dared resist their revilers ; before, when it was a crime to answer a heathen : it is now a crime to remain a heathen. Thanks be to the Lord! He remembered our rebukes : He raised the horn of His Anointed on high, He made Him the Wonderful among the kings of the earth. Now no one insults Christians, or if he does, it is not in public: he speaks as if he were still more fearful of being heard, than anxious to be believed. 'I bear in my bosom the rebukes of many people."
40. " Wherewith Thine enemies have blasphemed Thee, O Lord" (ver. 51), both Jews and Pagans. 'Wherewith they have blasphemed." Wherewith have they blasphemed Thee? "With the change of Thine Anointed."3 They objected that Christ died, and was crucified. Madmen, what is your reproach? Although there is now no one to use it: yet supposing some still remaining that so speak, what is your reproach ? that Christ died? He was not destroyed, but changed. He is styled "dead" on account of the three days. Wherewith then have thine enemies blasphemed Thee?' Not with the loss, not with the perdition of Thine Anointed, but with His "change." He was changed from temporal to eternal life : He was changed from the Jews to the Gentiles; He was changed, from earth to heaven. Let then Thy vain enemies blaspheme Thee still for the change of Thine Anointed. Would that they may be changed: they will not in that case blaspheme the change of Christ. which displeases them, since they themselves will not be changed. " For there is no change with them, and they fear not God." 4
41. They have blasphemed the change of Christ ; but what dost thou answer? '" The blessing of 5 the Lord for evermore. Amen and I seek out no possessed one, I never ask advice
6 Oxf. mss. add here, "' what else shall I say but:" 7 Oxf. mss. Rem tenemus, while we retain possession of the (unrequited) benefit.
I Psa. liv. x; Gal. iv. 27. 2 x Cor. iv 3 Christz. 4 Ps. lv. 19. anss 5 Oxf, mss, " blessed be."
8 Matt. xxiii. 38.